New Delhi

Insisting that he is “not a VIP”, Congress President Sonia Gandhi’s son-in-law Robert Vadra today said he had given consent for removal of his name from the elite ‘no-frisking’ list at airports and wondered if it was not being done as part of a “conspiracy” to malign his image.

He maintained that he has never used this “privilege” and does not need it and that he should be treated as any other normal citizen of the country.

“I am clear but wish the concerned authorities would understand that I am not a VVIP or a VIP,” Vadra said in a statement here against the backdrop of the government saying that it has no plans to remove him from the ‘no-frisking’ list.

The ‘no-frisking’ privilege, enjoyed by SPG protectees like Vadra’s wife Priyanka Gandhi and Constitutional dignitaries, saves them from the requirement of going through security checks at airports.

Vadra’s name has cropped up several times with regard to whether he should enjoy the facility.

“I have .. given my consent to remove my name from this list many times. My conduct says it, but apparently the analysis disclosed by the government on my threat perception, allegedly says I am not required to be on this list,” he said, adding “so why double standards in removing my name from the VVIP list?”

Asserting that it takes less than a minute to get frisked and he has nothing to hide, Vadra said “may be I need to personally go to every airport and delete my name. Will that work? Or is it a part of a larger conspiracy to malign my image? I am humble and as normal as any citizen. So please treat me like one.”

He asked those concerned to “stop wasting people’s time” on this issue. “There are much larger issues to be dealt with.

My humble request is to focus on them.”

PTI